Post Graduation Run

[AndyG59]

After graduating from C25K, 18 weeks, several repeated weeks, I’ve started on my own. It’s incredible to think that 18 weeks ago I could barely run for 2 minutes without getting totally gassed out. I went for my first post graduation run on Sunday this week and only had the sound of my breathing and occasional passing car in my ears, no more Jo Whiley😢. I just kept on running and trying to concentrate on my posture and breathing, then all of a sudden my watch clicked at me… I’d completed a full 5k without stopping and pretty much without realising. The biggest surprise was that I’d actually been running for over 42 minutes… I was shocked, stunned and elated at the same time. It was a euphoric moment, emotional to say the least… I cannot begin to describe the overwhelming feeling of elation and how incredible I felt. Something I initially thought was impossible to achieve is becoming a normal, weekly occurrence, almost habit forming… I’ve completed the same run twice since and feel like I want to push further… C25K is a brilliant tool to get you going and no matter how impossible it seems, if you keep going and believe in your goals you can do it. I’m 59 with asthma, hypertension and weight issues but I’m a runner.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

That's such a great post to read, the best gift you could give yourself.

If you let admins know via the graduate post they'll put the badge ' graduste' next to your name.

[Jools2020 Graduate]

Well done! Your first 5K is a huge milestone and you’ve done it - overcoming all your challenges! Then, of course, you start thinking about more. I remember when I started, running for 5K was my only goal! (How little I knew how the bug would get me!)

You might consider just enjoying running for a few weeks without pushing yourself too hard. Run in new places. Drive somewhere to run if you have to. Enjoy being out in the autumn with just your thoughts - your favourite music or a podcast.

Have a look at the Bridge to 10K forum. When you’ve been running for a few weeks, you can decide what’s next for you. Many of us use the Nike Run Club app for various guided runs. Want to run for an hour? Or 10K? Juju’s Magic Plan will help you (it’s a spreadsheet). Maybe you don’t need a plan (like me). I just increased time spent running on one of my runs every week until I reached all the milestones.

Happy running!